Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Large city
Admissions
- Acceptance rate (most recent year)
- 5.9%
- Applicants (fall 2023)
- 45,313
- Admitted (fall 2023)
- 2,844
- Enrolled freshmen (fall 2023)
- 1,622
- Yield (admitted who enroll)
- 57%
- Acceptance rate – women (fall 2023)
- 5.9%
- Acceptance rate – men (fall 2023)
- 6.8%
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 730–770
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 770–800
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 34–35
- Enrollees who sent SAT / ACT
- 25% / 26%
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey, fall 2023 entering class; test ranges and rate from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
What they look at
- High school GPA
- required
- High school class rank
- considered
- High school record (transcript)
- required
- College-prep program completed
- required
- Recommendations
- required
- Demonstration of competencies
- not considered
- SAT/ACT scores
- considered
- English proficiency test (TOEFL etc.)
- required
- Other test
- not considered
- Work experience
- considered
- Personal statement or essay
- required
- Legacy status
- considered
“Considered” means the college uses it if you submit it, but it isn’t required.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) for first-time, full-time students who got aid, by family income.
- Full sticker price (per year)
- $89,590
- Tuition & fees – in-state
- $67,498
- Tuition & fees – out-of-state
- $67,498
- Median debt at graduation
- $14,000
- Students with federal loans
- 9.6%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Outcomes
- Graduate within 6 years
- 94%
- Freshmen who return for year 2
- 96%
- Median earnings, 1 year after graduating
- $68,884
- Median earnings, 10 years after starting
- $91,565
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Students & campus
- Undergraduates
- 7,208
- Graduate students
- 6,354
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 8 : 1
- Women
- 52%
- Students receiving Pell grants
- 20%
- Full-time faculty
- 85%
Undergraduate diversity
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Most popular majors
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release) (share of bachelor’s degrees awarded)
Contacts & links
- Chancellor
- Daniel Diermeier
- Main phone
- (615) 322-7311
- Address
- 2101 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37240
How to apply (2026–27)
| Plan | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | November 1 | mid-December |
| Early Decision II (binding) | January 1 | mid-February |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | late March |
- Apply with
- Common App, Coalition/Scoir, QuestBridge
- Application fee
- $50 (waivers available)
- SAT/ACT
- Optional
- Essays
- 1 short answer (plus Common App/Coalition personal essay)
- Recommendations
- 1 counselor + 2 teachers
- Interview
- not offered
Testing: Optional for fall 2027 and 2028 entry; required for fall 2029 entry
Financial aid policies
- Need-blind for U.S. applicants
- Meets 100% of demonstrated need
- No-loan financial aid
- Merit scholarships: Merit scholarships; merit application due December 1
- Opportunity Vanderbilt: full-tuition award for household income $200K or less
Early rounds & waitlist (2025-2026)
- Early Decision admit rate
- 14.1% (874 of 6,202)
Source: the college’s official website and Common Data Set 2025-2026: admissions.vanderbilt.edu, admissions.vanderbilt.edu, admissions.vanderbilt.edu, admissions.vanderbilt.edu. Dates can change, so always confirm on the college’s site.